Transfer StudentsAs a transfer student to Ringling College of Art and Design, you will be choosing a major at the time you apply. Ringling College offers 14 undergraduate programs and each curriculum is distinct. It is important that you read about the majors carefully and then review the portfolio requirements for that major.

Students apply directly to one of 14 undergraduate majors and a portfolio of work specific to that major is required. While it is possible to change majors, it is not guaranteed, and can result in starting over in the new major.

We encourage students to spend time exploring their academic interests prior to applying to Ringling College of Art and Design. Opportunities to learn about and experience each major include the Admissions Councilors, Ringling College Website, the Pre-college summer program, Open House events, Continuing Education (CSSP) opportunities and National Portfolio Day.

All degree requirements, including studio, art history and liberal arts classes, are offered at Ringling College of Art and Design. Students matriculating at Ringling College are encouraged to complete all their coursework at the College. The rationale for this policy rests in the mission and philosophy of the institution and in its concern for the essential unity and integrity of all aspects of the curriculum: major requirements, liberal arts, art history and open electives. However, you can take the entire program in residence, or transfer in credits prior to entry.

Ringling College of Art and Design will consider for transfer any liberal arts or studio credit that meets academic requirements and in which a grade of “C” or better was earned from a regionally accredited college or university. Only the course credit is transferred. Transfer credit is not used in the calculation of grade point averages.

Student transfer credit evaluations for studio art classes* will be handled by the department head or his/her designee. The Office of Advising, Records and Registration Services evaluates transfer credit for liberal arts and art history courses. Once the evaluation is complete, transfer students will be able to see what courses have transferred and how they satisfy degree requirements by logging onto Self-Service and reviewing their on-line transcript. Students with liberal arts transfer credits may take additional studio or art history electives.

Students are limited to a total of 66 semester hours of transfer credits. A minimum of 54 semester hours must be taken at Ringling College of Art and Design. The last two academic years of study for a Ringling College of Art and Design degree must be completed in courses of study within a major of the College.

Ringling College of Art and Design reserves the right to decline credit for coursework that is more than ten years old.

Studio Transfer Credit:Students who have taken studio art courses at another regionally accredited institution of higher education may have those courses and a portfolio reviewed by the department head or Academic Affairs designee to determine if the credits can apply to the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts degrees. Requests for studio transfer credit must be supported by a sufficient number of portfolio submissions that demonstrate the competencies associated with those required by the majors.

Permission to take courses at other colleges during the summer is granted through the Office of Advising, Records and Registration Services. Students must meet with their Academic Advisor who will consider all aspects of the student’s request, including the quality and level of the proposed course and its role in the student’s program of study before completing a Transient Student form. Courses intended to fulfill major requirements must also be approved by the department head.

Students entering with an Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Arts degree from a regionally accredited college or university will be considered to have met the liberal arts requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or Bachelor of Arts degree. Students entering with an Associate of Science or Bachelor of Science degree from a regionally accredited college or university will have their liberal arts credits evaluated to determine if they fulfill the distribution requirements for the B.F.A. degree or the B.A. degree. Additional course work may be required.

Art History Transfer Credit:Students who have taken art history courses at another regionally accredited institution of higher education may have those courses evaluated by the Academic Advisors in the Office of Advising, Records, and Registration Services to determine if they meet the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts Degree. Departments at Ringling College may have specific art history requirements such as a history of the discipline. The proposed transfer credit will be reviewed by the Academic Advisor and/or an Academic Affairs designee to determine if the credit meets institutional standards for course equivalence.

Liberal Arts Transfer Credit:Consistent with the requirements for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Ringling College will accept for credit, courses drawn from the following three areas of knowledge: humanities and fine arts; social and behavioral sciences; and natural sciences and mathematics.

Admission to Advanced Standing by Portfolio Review:A portfolio of work is internally reviewed by the department head or designee for advanced standing in the student’s selected program of study. The portfolio must demonstrate mastery of skills and sufficient knowledge of content in the college level course for which placement is being sought. Students demonstrating competence beyond that required for entrance may be exempted from one or more college-level courses in the subject or subjects covered by the portfolio review, provided that such demonstration of competence is confirmed by further successful study in residence in the same field. Credit is not awarded for advanced standing and students will be expected to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Transfer credit is granted only when the coursework is externally validated through a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a C or better or through programs such as IB and AP.

Residency Requirement:Students are limited to a total of 66 semester hours of transfer credits. A minimum of 54 semester hours must be taken at Ringling College of Art and Design. The last two academic years of study for a Ringling College of Art and Design degree must be completed in courses of study within a major of the College.

Dual Enrollment:Courses taken in high school on a dual enrollment basis with a regionally accredited college or university will be considered for transfer credit.

Articulation Agreement:Florida transfer students who complete the AA Degree in studio art or photography from select Florida community colleges are eligible to apply to the 2 + 2 BFA in Fine Arts or the BFA in Photography & Digital Imaging. Once accepted to the program, students are enrolled at the junior level and complete an additional two years in residency at Ringling College to complete the B.F.A. degree.

Participating Community Colleges:

State College of Florida: AA with an emphasis in Studio Art AA with an emphasis in Photography St. Petersburg College: AA with an emphasis in Studio Art Valencia College: AA in Fine Art/Studio Art

Veterans:Ringling College is approved for veterans’ study under several GI bills, and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans should contact the Veteran Certifying Official in the Office of Advising, Records and Registration Services for more information.

International Students:International students who have attended a college/university outside the United States and are requesting transfer credit must have their academic credentials evaluated by a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service. This evaluation must include a “course by course” evaluation with grades or marks and credits or hours equated to the U.S. system. The official and sealed credential evaluation must be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar at Ringling College of Art and Design. International students must have their transcripts evaluated by The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) International Education Services http://ies.aacrao.org/ , which is RCAD's required evaluation service.

Advanced Placement CreditRingling College must receive the official Advanced Placement (AP) Transcript within the first year of the student’s matriculation if credit is to be awarded. No AP credit will be awarded after the student has completed one full year at Ringling College.